Parallel to the publication of SC7's development plan for Eurocode 7, British Standards Institution (BSI) has launched a Systematic Review of the Eurocodes and has invited all-and-sundry to respond to six important questions:

Do any clauses require editorial or technical correction?

Which clauses would benefit from improvements in clarity?

Where should the scope of the EN be extended?

Where could the EN be shortened?

Are there any clauses whose application leads to uneconomic construction?

Are there any clauses whose application necessitates excessive design effort?

It is very important that the UK geotechnical industry's voice is heard at European level and this is your opportunity to speak up! Professor David Nethercott of Imperial College and Chair of B/525, - the BSI committee responsible for the UK's input to the Eurocode development - has written an open letter about the importance of this review, here:

Note the plea for specific comments - it is no good telling SC7 that Eurocode 7 is difficult to use. Please tell us how we can make it easier! Which clauses would you change? What is missing from the code? What doesn't need to be in there?

If you have any questions about this process - or wish to get involved in some way over the next 5-6 years - please contact me, Andrew Bond, in my role as Chairman of SC7, to discuss.